LTCF - KSY - Kars

Contents

Kars has a humid continental climate, with a wide range of temperature between the summer and winter, due to its high elevation and relatively high latitude. Summers are generally brief and warm with cool nights. The average high temperature in August is 26°C. Winters are very cold. The average low January temperature is −18°C. However, temperatures can plummet to −40 °C(−40.0 °F) during the winter months. It snows a lot in winter, staying for an average of four months in the city.

Arriving from BAYGA or BERNE plan on a visual approach if conditions allow to avoid overflying KAR and accomplishing the racetrack - be at the MEA at these points to allow for a visual descent if in VMC

Outside of 10NM around Kars the terrain rises steeply, only descend below MEA when officially flying a visual approach with the terrain and the airfield in sight.

The Kars valley is void of trees and distinctive terrain features - beware of possible whiteout conditions in snowy weather.

Very low temperatures in winter necessitate the use of cold temperature altitude corrections - correct all MEAs and crossing altitudes, especially in IMC.

Mystereriously the tower is usually giving winds favorable for runway 06 even though you might experience considerable tailwind on approach.

Circling for 24 requires VMC (5 km visibility) is easiest when first flying the ILS down to the circling altitude - within 8 NM of Kars there are no obstacles and the terrain rises only slowly northwest of the runway.

While the runway surface looks brand new it seems to be buckling from the large seasonal temperature changes. The best description for this is a washboard dirt road, very small corrugations that shake the airplane especially at taxi speeds. Backtracking offset from the center line helps alleviate this somewhat.